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ACIQ vs Friedrich: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical ACIQ model beats 50% and a typical Friedrich model 39%. ACIQ rates higher overall.

Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated

ACIQ

50%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

175 models listed

Friedrich

39%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

188 models listed

Rating by ratingEach bar is the share of same-size, same-type heat pumps that a typical model beats, so the two brands compare fairly even if they make different sizes.
  • Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FACIQ: Beats 55%Friedrich: Beats 46%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FACIQ: Beats 43%Friedrich: Beats 36%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2ACIQ: Beats 52%Friedrich: Beats 31%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2ACIQ: Beats 49%Friedrich: Beats 34%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2ACIQ: Beats 52%Friedrich: Beats 37%

Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison

Want ranks, distributions per size class and cold-weather curves? Switch to Advanced

Rebate standards

Share of each brand’s models that meet the level. Programs can have other rules too.
  • CEE 2025

    ACIQ
    55%
    Friedrich
    27%
  • Xcel CC

    ACIQ
    46%
    Friedrich
    21%
  • CEE Advanced

    ACIQ
    2%
    Friedrich
    1%
  • ENERGY STAR CC

    ACIQ
    34%
    Friedrich
    22%

All-around best, ducted 5 tons and up

Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.

ACIQ

  1. 1B5H3V60*K*AAA*with ducted air handler FCMA5B60L0D*+WALLCONACIQ5 tons · 58,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 82.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    74% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.18 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    89.1score / 100Heating 82 · Cooling 96
  2. 2H5H3V60*K*AAA*with ducted air handler FCMA5B60L0D*+WALLCONACIQ5 tons · 58,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 72.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    74% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.06 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    83.9score / 100Heating 72 · Cooling 96
  3. 3N5H9V60*K*AAA*with ducted air handler FTMA5B60L0DACIQ5 tons · 57,500 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 80.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.12 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    17.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    80.6score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 81

Friedrich

  1. 1FRP17AY60AJVCwith ducted air handler RH2TY6024STANNFriedrich5 tons · 57,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 77.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    78% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    17.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Good
    70.3score / 100Heating 77 · Cooling 63
  2. 2FRP15AY60AJ2Nwith ducted air handler FRH2TY6024STANNFriedrichAlso listed as FWP15AY60AJ2N5 tons · 57,000 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 52% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    50% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    7.8 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    15.2 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    56.6score / 100Heating 55 · Cooling 58
  3. 3FWP14AY60AJ2Nwith ducted air handler FRH2TY6024STANNFriedrichAlso listed as FRP14AY60AJ2N5 tons · 57,000 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 52% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    47% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    7.8 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    15.2 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    52.4score / 100Heating 47 · Cooling 58

These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.

Next steps

The advanced view adds ranks, both brands’ models inside every size class, standout models per rating and cold-weather curves.

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